The Caddo Oil and Gas Field, Louisiana and Texas Page: 10
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CADDO OIL AND GAS FIELD.
were imperfectly finished, and if once they caught fire it was extin-
guished with difficulty. One of the earliest burning gas wells, Pro-
ducers No. 2, blew out in May, 1905, the gas escaping around the
casing for a distance of several hundred feet and forming a mud vol-
cano by loosening the earth. Another well that attracted considerable
attention was just west of the Kansas City Southern Railway track.
Probably the best known of the burning gas wells was the one in
sec. 7, a short distance southeast of Oil City. This well burned for
several years, and although it was frequently extinguished its pres-
ence caused enormous loss of gas and lowered the pressure of other
wells in the Oil City district. Until recently the gas from this well
escaped in the bottom of a pond of water, causing constant motion, the
waves dashing several feet into the air. The ignited gas formed a
striking spectacle, and the well was usually kept burning to evaporate
the salt water from the pond and prevent its overflowing the adjacent
land. The loss of gas was stopped in the summer of 1913, when the
State conservation commission, with the assistance of the oil and
gas companies, had the well killed by drilling a well near it to re
lieve the pressure and then pumping mud into the burning well until
the flow of gas was stopped. An attempt will be made to avoid simi-
lar accidents by having the casings cemented at the bottom so as to
prevent the escape of gas into the earth surrounding the wells.
The most noted of the burning oil wells was the Producers Oil &
Gas Co.'s Harrell No. 7, in the SE. I sec. 7, T. 21 N., R. 16 W. This
well, which had a very large flow of oil, accidentally caught fire and
was with great difficulty brought under control. This fire was
probably the most spectacular one that has ever occurred in the
field. The burning of the Star Oil Co.'s well No. 3, on the Louck's
lease, was also a disastrous fire, and probably no greater ingenuity
was ever shown in dealing with a burning well than was displayed
in extinguishing the fire at this well, which was accomplished by
drawing oil from the well, thus lessening the amount of fuel and
making it comparatively easy to smother the flames with steam. The
oil was drawn by running trucks carrying a pipe line into the flames
and forcing the end of the pipe over the connections at the top of the
casing. Oil then flowed through the pipe and was collected in an-
earthen tank situated beyond the reach of the flames.
PHYSIOGRAPHY.
CHARACTER OF SURFACE.
A large part of the Caddo oil and gas field is so level that it is
very imperfectly drained. The largest tract of flat land is- in the
vicinity of Oil City, from which it extends westward to Jeems10
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Matson, George Charlton. The Caddo Oil and Gas Field, Louisiana and Texas, report, 1916; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1065591/m1/12/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.